Developing a purpose and setting goals to achieve them is the key to success, and not setting goals or a purpose can lead to the country’s leading “silent killer”: stress.
“4 Ways to Stay Calm During a Stressful Situation”, acknowledges that nobody is immune from stress, and as such dealing with it is a matter of how, more than it is a matter of why.
“Let’s face it, if you’re breathing, then you’re going to be susceptible to the inevitable stresses of life itself,” commented Per Wickstrom, “yet how we deal with stress ultimately determines whether the quality of our life is joyful, peaceful and positive, or rife with anxiety, anger and negativity. So in other words, no matter what life throws our way – and believe me, life has thrown its fair share of challenges my way! – we have the power to decide whether we’re going to stay calm and ride the wave, or lose control and get swept under. It really all boils down to that.”
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To help people of all ages deal with their stress in positive and productive ways, Wickstrom offers the following four strategies:
1. Have a plan. As the old saying goes, “a failure to plan, is a plan to fail.” People who have a plan are typically more confident, more focused, more resilient, and ultimately more successful, too.
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2. Build relationships based on trust. Whether it’s a simple conversation or an in-depth “venting session”, few things in life are as valuable – or stress-reducing – than communicating with a trusted friend, family member or professional (e.g. a counsellor, therapist, doctor, etc.).
3. Stay positive. Studies clearly show that a positive frame of mind not only promotes better physical health, but it also helps reduce stress and identify solutions.
4. Take care of oneself. Whether it’s having a nourishing meal, getting enough rest, or simply “unplugging” from the ‘net every now and then, people need to put themselves first -- especially if they want the strength to take care of others.
Added Wickstrom: “I cannot overemphasize the fact that drugs and alcohol are not stress-relievers! On the contrary, they generate more and more stress, and can lead to addiction. Indeed, many people suffering from addiction ultimately have a stress management problem at the root, which must be addressed through the right methodologies as part of their unique recovery program.”
